Without real reforms, Illinois’ credit downgrades will just keep coming
Without real reforms, Illinois’ credit downgrades will just keep coming
On Jan. 25, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services downgraded Illinois' credit to A- from A.
Institute on Fox Business: Ted Dabrowski talks Illinois’ credit downgrade on Varney & Co.
Institute on Fox Business: Ted Dabrowski talks Illinois’ credit downgrade on Varney & Co.
The Institute’s Vice President of Policy, Ted Dabrowski, joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business to discuss the S&P’s latest downgrade of Illinois’ credit to A-Minus the eleventh credit downgrade since Gov. Quinn assumed office in 2009.
Institute in Daily Herald: Defined benefit plans cannot be sustained
Institute in Daily Herald: Defined benefit plans cannot be sustained
Daily Herald published the following opinion piece by the Institute’s Vice President of Policy, Ted Dabrowski: Many civic groups are calling for the legislature to do something ? anything ? on pension reform. That’s fool’s advice. Instead, they should call on lawmakers to do the right thing. That means a defined contribution system. It’s the...
Dropping out of pensions
Dropping out of pensions
State law doesnt allow for the lawmaker, who entered the upper chamber in 2008, to drop out of the system.
Illinois needs a strict spending limit
Illinois needs a strict spending limit
Illinois has a spending problem. Spending per capita has grown nearly three times faster than it would have under a responsible spending limit one tied to the growth of inflation and population.
Liberate workers from politician-controlled pensions
Liberate workers from politician-controlled pensions
In the aftermath of this months scramble to pass something anything that politicians could call pension reform, heres the most important reason why taxpayers should be grateful the Nekritz-Biss plan was shelved: the funding guarantee.
Institute on ABC 20: Auditor position vacant at 3 out of 5 state pension funds
Institute on ABC 20: Auditor position vacant at 3 out of 5 state pension funds
Illinois Policy Institute Executive Vice President, Kristina Rasmussen, appeared on ABC 20 to discuss the Auditor General’s report, which found that Illinois’ unfunded pension liability grew nearly $12 billion in fiscal year 2012. The unfunded liability in the state’s retirement systems has ballooned by nearly $12 billion in the last budget year. That’s according to...
Taxpayers feel the pinch, as Illinois spends
Taxpayers feel the pinch, as Illinois spends
Is your wallet a little thinner these days?
Squeezy cost $23; pension inaction costs $21 million per day
Squeezy cost $23; pension inaction costs $21 million per day
An open records request to the governor's office revealed the only new cost for the entire website was a $23 purchase to reserve domain names at GoDaddy.com.
Illinois’ balanced budget rule not worth the paper its written on
Illinois’ balanced budget rule not worth the paper its written on
Gov. Pat Quinns Office of Management and Budget recently released its three-year budget projections for Illinois General Fund. According to the report, Illinois will end fiscal year 2013 with a $242 million budget surplus.
When it comes to pensions, Illinois faces lack of leadership
When it comes to pensions, Illinois faces lack of leadership
We keep looking for leadership and we keep ending up with politics.
2013 budget projections show Quinns true colors
2013 budget projections show Quinns true colors
How confident do you feel that Illinois will be able to pay its bills in 2013 and beyond?
Businesses could face higher rates with progressive tax
Businesses could face higher rates with progressive tax
Learn more about the disadvantages of a progressive income tax.
State employee pension fund sees dismal 2012 returns
State employee pension fund sees dismal 2012 returns
Although the pension fund for state employees predicted it would earn $850 million in fiscal year 2012, it actually earned less than $6 million. The fund posted an investment return of just 0.05 percent, far below the 7.75 percent it expected.